is it possible to convert the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest roll into a Z fold ?
on 03/20/2012 11:50:57 MDT

has anyone experimented with modifying the bulky Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest from a burrito roll to a Therm-a-Rest Z accordion shape? This would involve Freddy Krueger surgical blades, and I suspect that I will cut too deep and completely destroy it.

I have both, the Z eggs crate shape folds nicely, optimizing the space, but it is super thin, and depending on the terrain... less comfort.

The Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest has good thermal design, but bulky, I put it inside my backpack rolled wide, and stuff my gear inside the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest burrito.

Having seen a video of how its made, it seems like a big steel plate comes down and with heat, presses the shape. So, if you had a hot bar or something, you could press in fold seams (alternating sides of the pad). The issue is not to melt through... just press it thin to make a crease fold. Try pressing a hot nail into the corner to see if it hold the form, now im curious.

A good part of the reason that the Z-rest is space efficient is because the sections nest when they fold. The pad is designed so that the "hills" on one section fit into the "valleys" on the adjoining one. I'm not sure that you'd be able to accomplish the same thing with the diagonal bosses on the Ridge Rest.